Flat wounds?

Gear
1

Hello All,

I’m on the “Steady Eddie” plan, finishing up week 3. So total newb…

My friend gave me a set of flat wound strings. I have a good set of Ernie Ball rounds on right now and love the sound. I don’t know what the flats would really do.

I know the proper answer here is, “Put the bleepin’ strings on and experiment!”, but I just got my rounds set up, truss rod, saddle heights, and, yes, even intonation of the E string! :stuck_out_tongue:

I am not sure I am ready for that stress again with flats!

So, I ask the collective. Gimme some advice. Please?

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2

I’d say “thank you very much for the flats! I look forward to trying them out when I finish the course!”

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3

No worries. Put the flats on a shelf and go about finishing the course. There will be plenty of time later to try them, if you wish.

That said, comfortable playing and desired tone are the main criteria for choosing fave strings. You might get one or more basses in the future, so you can dedicate whichever you choose to wear flats or rounds.

For now, just learn and play. That’s where the fun is. Strings and things can wait.

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4

I’m surprised that anyone has yet to mention the obvious instant solution. Buy another bass for the strings. :grin:

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5

Flats will get rid of a lot of finger and string noise.

Therefore, learn with the rounds to get your technique down, then try the flats

Simples

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6

:100: :yum:

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7

I think it also depends on the bass you got , what bass are you talking about ?

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8

My Sire U5 came with round wound strings. My fretless U5 came with flats from the factory. I was kind of surprised, but pleased. The fretless was only 25 € more than the fretted. If it had come with rounds, it would have cost me more then 40 € for flats to restring it.

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9

I have a 2021 Lakland 44-64 Custom PJ that I really like. :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

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10

Exactly what I was thinking. I bought a set of Fender vintage tuner with Drop D and the plan immediately started. I ended up with this.

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11

That is a nice bass and would suond nice with some flats, but as others mentioned before take your time with your rounds and try the flats later in your bass yourney, you got all the time in the world :smiley:

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12

Two thoughts.

  • If it ain’t broke don’t fix it
  • It’s just strings. You’ll change them often enough no big deal
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13

To me it’s a huge deal. I certainly can’t afford to have favorite or worse “must have” string set on all of my bass. The term disaster comes to mind, :rofl:

14

this is another reason I start to get itchy when I have more than two basses

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15

I only use flats and tape wounds, so I’d say go for it. But I like the sound. YMMV.

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16

I dig it. I’m going to get a bit farther along in the journey. I will eventually get the flats wound up. Get it?! “Wound up”.

:man_facepalming::man_shrugging:

17

I feel like no one has bothered to explain why someone might want flat wounds instead of round wounds; the difference between the sound, playability, etc. Could someone please do that? Thanks.

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18

Some people like their texture better, others (like me) dislike it.

Some people like the more vintage motown thuddy thump tone they have more, others (like me) prefer the brighter and more aggressive tone of rounds.

Flats will last much, much longer than rounds - they already sound kind of like dead rounds.

Flats cost much more than rounds.

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19

I think at least one reply talked about reduction in finger noise and overall string noise with the flat wounds versus round wounds.

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20

Yeah that’s kind of a by-product of the texture. It’s also kind of a crutch but that’s ok.

String noise, as long as it’s not excessive, is part technique (to keep it low) and part something that over time you come to appreciate and like, at least in my experience. It’s like a humanizing touch.

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